The best part about Rainmeter icons? Whether you’d like to use the fantastic fan-made icons already at your disposal or want to create custom icons yourself, everyone can experience the satisfaction of custom desktop icons with Rainmeter. Here’s how!

Yet, it’s often best to learn how to create an icon before beginning to download and install icon sets. Since Rainmeter skin settings are text-based, learning your way around Rainmeter skins will help you get the most out of your skins. That way, you can download and edit skins at your leisure instead of relying on already-made ones. Rainmeter has a very active user base, after all!

You’ll need to place your two files within this folder. Double-click your newly created folder, right-click an empty space within this directory, and select New, then Text Document. Input the following:

Save this document with the INI extension (for example, muologo.ini) and not with the usual TXT extension. This will allow Rainmeter to recognize your skin. You’ll have to replace the three bold parameters above.

[address] — Place the address of your choice here, within the two quotation marks. The LeftMouseUpAction parameter signifies the action is committed whenever the user left-mouse clicks the icon.

[image file name] — Place the name of your image file, which should be in the same directory as your INI file, here. This will allow Rainmeter to call the image for your icon.

[width] — Place your width, measured in pixels by default, next to your W parameter. Since our PreserveAspectRatio parameter is set to 1, your width will determine both the width and height of your icon. If you leave width blank, your image will appear as its native resolution.

Your Rainmeter folder should look something like the following.

Icons can, of course, be considerably more complex (especially if they provide a large icon library and additional functions). What’s been presented, however, is the basic format by which Rainmeter icons are created.

Placing Your Icon

Now that you’ve created your icon, it’s time to place it. First, ensure that you have your INI and image file in the same place. Next, click Refresh All in the lower left-hand side of your Manage Rainmeter window.

Then, find your newly created icons folder. This folder should be located under the Active skins selection in your Rainmeter window.

Click on the drop-down menu beside MUO Icon, as written in the example above, and you should see your INI skin file.

If you don’t see this file, ensure you’ve added the INI extension to your file. Once you’ve found your INI file, double-click the file or select Load from the Rainmeter window. You should now see your skin on the desktop: if not, remember to ensure your files are both placed and configured correctly.

That’s how to create icons in Rainmeter!

Ready-Made Icon Sets

While it’s great to know how to create icons, you don’t have to create them all from scratch. This is a list of the top icons sets available online for Rainmeter.

Honeycomb

For the beginner Rainmeter guru, Honeycomb is a must. Honeycomb provides stylish, high-quality hexagonal icons for various programs, folders, and websites.

The library is extensive and is continually being refined to create more complex and feature-packed icons. Additionally, Honeycomb + GGL will provide users with similar, custom Rainmeter icons with an additional mouse-over effect. The mouse-over effect will add a background to your desktop reflecting the icon you choose.

If you need a few Rainmeter icons to spice up your desktop, Honeycomb is a great way to go.

Circle Launcher

Another fantastic, simple icon is Circle Launcher. If you don’t appreciate the definite line aspect of Honeycomb, Circle Launcher should definitely be your go-to icon set.

It does everything you’d want from a beginner icon set, and nothing you don’t.

Silmeria Dock — Honeymoon

A simple-yet-sophisticated drawer icon set, Silmeria Dock — Honeymoon provides a simple interface for users to add, take away, and rearrange their icons.

Remember, you can then change whatever aspect of these icons/icon docks you prefer.

Vivid Launcher

A magnificent new addition to the Rainmeter folds, Vivid Launcher is a highly customizable icon launcher with a neat mouse-over effect to boot.

Vivid Launcher’s icons, along with its mouse-over feature, are easy to change as well. Simply right-click the skin and select SETTINGS to modify.

Icon Image Sets

The following are not Rainmeter skins. At least, not yet. When you begin creating your own custom icons, you’ll need plenty of icon images. That’s where websites like Flaticon come into play.

Flaticon provides users with beautiful, often free, icon images of all shapes and sizes. Best of all, they provide multiple image formats for any and all icon projects you take up.

Christian is a recent addition to the MakeUseOf community and an avid reader of everything from dense literature to Calvin and Hobbes comic strips. His passion for technology is only matched by his want and willingness to help; if you have any questions concerning (mostly) anything, feel free to email…